Domeris, William R.2022-10-042022-10-04https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14194/2822The disposition of ouranological scholarship, that is the study(ology)of Heaven(ouranos),has been to emphasize its eschatological nature. This thesis offers an exegetical study on the subject of Heaven in Scripture, particularly in the book of Revelation, which is considered the most erudite work on Heaven in literature, in order to determine whether the scriptures show Heaven as having a vital non-eschatological nature, too. This thesis concludes that Revelation presents Jesus as inimitably involved with Heaven, and that this involvement presents Heaven as having a past, present, and future nature. Moreover, within these three chronological eras exist seven specific epochs of Heaven, which are fashioned by the ministry of Jesus Christ. The exegetical data in this thesis will therefore show Heaven is best understood when it is expanded beyond the boundaries of eschatology. One unique contribution of this thesis is it rhetorically analyzes its exegetical findings. Rhetorical analysis is a relatively new field in NT exegetical studies, which asserts that design impacts meaning. The conclusion of this analysis shows the purported epochs are structured as achiasm, which presents the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus as the apex of ouranology. This is helpful in that it affirms the importance of understanding ouranology outside the boundaries of eschatology, because this is not observable when the doctrine is limited to a doctrine of last things. It is also helpful in that it correlates with a recent trend in biblical theology, which asserts the scriptures are best understood as a meta-story, specifically as a Christological metanarrative.331 pagesNew TestamentThesis